Bicycle-support



(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. CONLEY.

BICYCLE SUPPORT.

No. 378,496. I Patented Feb, 28, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. P. GONLEY.

BICYCLE SUPPORT.

No. 878,496; Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

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JOSEPH F. OONLEY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

ElGYCLE -SUPFORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378/596, dated February 23, 188$.

Application filed October 14, 1887. Serial No. 252,361. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOsEPH F. CONLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Rockford, in the county of W'innebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycle-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a bicycle support adapted to be attached to any machine; and it has for its objects the provision of a device which will support or steady a machine while the rider is learning to ride.

It is well known that in learning to ride a two-wheeled machine it is very dii'iicnlt to both steer and operate the treadles at the same time. If the attention is given to one the other is forgotten.

My invention consists, in effect, of two supports or legs attached at the upper ends to the head of the machine and bearing small wheels on the lower ends, which are adapted to roll on the ground on opposite sides of the main wheel of the machine and slightly in front of the center of the same. The learner may now give his attention to the operation of the treadles and become familiar with the motion thereof. I also provide means whereby the small guide-wheels are normally lifted from the ground by spring action, and therefore, when they are needed to steady the machine, they must be pressed down against the action of the said spring. The handles which operate the small wheels are close to the steeringhandles of the bicycle, and the learner may operate the said handle to cause the wheels to assume their useful position with a very slight motion of his hand. Consequently when the rider has learned the operation of the treadles he may allow the small wheels to be raised from contact with the ground and devote his attentionmorepartieularlytosteering. Should he feel that he is losing his balance at any time, it is only necessary to grasp the operating-handle of the steadying device and bring the guide-wheels down to the ground.

The invention is more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle,showing thesnpport in the raised or inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the support in the operative position and indicatin in dotted lines the different positions in which the legs may be adjusted. Fig. 3 is a front view of the bicycle. Fig. dis a detail perspective view ofthe operating means for the legs, andshowing the manner of attaching the same to the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail view of theadiustable guidearm, which is attached to the forks of the bicycle. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower end of the leg, showing the means of adjustment of the length thereof.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates a bicycle of any ordinary construction, having the head A, the handles A the forks 13 B, and the main or driving wheel B.

O designates a table which is supported in front of the head of the machine, and is provided at the rear side with the rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 0 0, having clamps D D on the extremities. The said clamps each comprise a socket or hollowed plate, d, on the lower end of the arm O, provided on opposite sides of the said socket or hollow with perforations d, ,and the cap E, hollowed or provided with a socket and having perforations c on opposite sides of the hollow therein to align with the perforations in the plate (I. i

The fork of the machine is adapted to pass through the space between the hollowed plates, and the plates are then drawn together to clam p the said fork by set-screws E, screwed into the aligned perforations in the plates. The table 0 is further provided on the front side with the apertnred ears F F, between which is pivoted the front end of the operating-lever G of the supporting device.

H designates a sliding bar which operates in an opening, h, in the center of the table 0, and the upper end of the said bar is provided with the apertured cars it h, between which an intermediate point of the lever G is pivoted. A spring, I, is coiled around the bar H between the lower side of the lever G and the upper side of the table. The strength of this spring holds the lever normally raised. The rear end of the lever is provided with a cross bar or handle, K, similar to the handle of the machine, which is adapted, when drawn down, to fit close to the handle of the machine, and thus enable both handles to be readily grasped by the rider.

L designates an adjustable guide-arm one end of which is attached to each fork of the machine near the lower end thereof.

L designates the socket-arm, provided at the rear end with a clamp, If, similar in construction to the clamps on the rear ends of the arms 0 C, and comprising the socket-platel and the hollowed or socket cap M, adapted to be clamped against the plate 'Z by the clamping-screws M.

N designates an adjustable bar having an eye, N, on the front end, and adapted to lit at the rear end in the socket L and be adjusted at any desired point thereof by the set-screw L 0 O designate the legs of the support, which are pivoted or loosely connected at the upper end to the lower end of the bar If and passing through the eyes N. The lower ends of the said legs are provided with sockets or sleeves O 0, having set-screwso at the lower ends.

P I? designate adjustable bars adapted to fit and be secured in these sockets, and they are bifurcated at the lower ends, and the wheels B Rare mounted between the branches at the lower ends of the bars 1.

The operation of the device will be easily understood. The spring I normally holds the handle K and the supporting-legs raised, as shown in Fig. 1, and when it is desired to bring the wheels it down to the ground the handle is drawn down. A hook, S, is attached to the handle K, which is adapted to be engaged with the handle of the bicycle, if desired, to hold the handles locked together. The wheels B being new arranged on opposite sides of the main wheel of the machine, it will steady it laterally, as it requires very little to support a bicycle in the upright position. The

said wheels also prevent the bicycle from tip ping forward, and thus precipitating the rider over the head, for the reason that they are arranged slightly in front of the center of the machine. The distance which the wheels It strike the ground in front of the center of the main wheel is adjustable by means of the adjustable bars N, carrying the eyes N, through which the legs 0 pass,- also, the length of the legs is adjustable to suit the size of the machine to which they are applied.

It will further be seen that the device is very easily and quickly applied to any machine, and if the sockets in the clamps are lined with felt or a similar soft material the finish on the forks will not receive any damage.

This steadying or supporting device will be found of especial advantage in learning to mount the machine, as it will prevent the same from wabbling and tipping until the rider reaches the saddle.

The utility of this device being clearly apparent from the above, it will not be necessary to enlarge further upon the same herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The support for bicycles, comprising the support or table attached to the front of the machine, the lever G, pivoted thereto and eX- tending over the handle of the machine, the handle F, corresponding in shape to the said handie and arranged directly over the same, the legs 0, connected to the lever and carrying wheels or rollers on their lower ends, and the spring to normally hold the lever raised, substantially as specified.

2. The support for bicycles, comprising the lever pivoted to a suitable portion thereof, the legs 0, attached thereto and bearing wheels or rollers on their lower ends, the spring to normally hold the lever raised, and the hook S, attached to the lever and adapted to engage the handle of the machine, substantially as specified.

8. In a support for a bicycle, the combination of the table secured to the front of the machine, the lever G, pivoted to the table, the bar II, pivoted at the upper end to the lever, the spring I, coiled around the bar between the lever and the table, and the legs 0, pivoted at the upper end to the lower end of the bar H and carrying rollers or wheels on the lower ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

a. In a support for a bicycle, the combination of the table attached to the front of the machine, the lever G, pivoted to the table, the bar If, pivoted at the upper end to the lever, the spring around the said bar, the guide-eyes N, secured to the forks of the machine near the lower ends, the legs 0, pivoted at the upper ends to the bar II and passing through the eyes N, the said legs being provided at the lower ends with sockets 0, and the adjustable bars P, adapted to fit in the said sockets and carrying the wheels It on the lower ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a support for bicycles, the combination of the table or support secured to the front of the machine and having the opening h therein, the lever G, pivoted to the table, sliding bar H, pivoted to the lever and operating in the opening 71, the spring I around the bar II, the adjustable guide-arms L, attached to the forks of the machine and carrying the guide-eyes N, the said arms being adapted to be lengthened or shortened to change the position of the guide-eyes, the legs 0, adjustable in length, which are pivoted at the upper ends to the bar H and pass through the guide'eyes N, and the wheels or rollers R on the lower ends of the legs 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

. G. In a support fer a bicycle, the combination of the table 0, having the opening h therein and the apertured ears on the front end, the lever G, pivoted between the said ears and extending over the handle of the bicycle, the bar H, pivoted to the lever and operating in the opening it, the guide-arms L, secured to the forks of the machine and com- IIS prising the socket-arm L, having the clamp L on the rear end to secure to the fork, the adjustable bar N, adapted to be received in the said socket and carrying the eye N, and the setscrew to bind the bar N in the socket, the extensible legs 0, pivoted at the upper end to the bar H and passing through the eye N, the said legs comprising the main portions, having sockets on the lower ends, and provided with set-screws, and the bars P, fitting in the said sockets and secured therein by the screws, and the wheels on the lower ends of the extensible legs, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a support for bicycles, the combination of the table G, having the downwardly and rearwardly extending arms 0, provided at the extremities with clamps to secure the arms to the forks of the bicycle, the said table having the opening h therein, the lever G, pivoted at the front end to the front end of the table, the handle K on the rear end of the lever over the handle of the bicycle, the hook S on the handle K to engage the handle of the bicycle, for the purpose described, the bar H, pivoted to thelever and operating in the opening 71, the spring I around the bar, the adjustable or extensible guide-arms L on the lower ends of the forks, the extensible legs 0, pivoted at the upper ends to the bar II and passing through the eyes on the ends of the guide-arms, and the Wheels or rollers on the lower ends of the legs, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore specified.

8. In a support for bicycles, the legs or supports attached at the upper end to the head of the machine and carrying rollers at their lower ends, springs for normally holding the rollers off the ground, and operating connections to force the legs or supports, with their rollers, in contact with the ground.

9. In a support for bicycles, the lever pivoted thereto, the horizontally-adjustable guideeycs attached to the forks of the machine, and the legs 0, engaging in the said eyes and attached to the lever, substantially as specified.

10. In a support for bicycles, the combination of the legs 0 0, connected at their upper ends to the head of the machine and having sockets O on their lower ends, and the bars P, mounted adjustably in the said sockets and bearing wheels or rollers on their lower ends, substantially as specified.

11. In a support for bicycles, the combination of the lever pivoted thereto, the legs 0, attached to the lever and having rollers on their lower ends, the sockets attached to the forks of the machine, the guide-arms mounted therein and having eyes on their free ends engaging the legs O, and the set-screws in the sockets locking the said arms at any desired adjustment, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. COIILEY.

Witnesses:

E. M. REVELLE, CHARLES M. CLARK. 

